Friday, April 10, 2009

What is it about bunnies? They’re so cute, so lovable, and somehow they always manage to make for a great children’s book.

One book that we have coming out in the new Second Grade edition of Hooked on Phonics Learn to Read is My Giant Bunny, written by RussellGinns and Jonathan Maier and illustrated by Guy Francis. It’s a story about a boy and his best friend, who happens to be a giant bunny. Size has advantages and disadvantages throughout this sweet book, but at its heart, this is a book about friendship.

Until My Giant Bunny is available, here are some other wonderful books to fill your bunny-love needs:

The Runaway Bunny, by Margaret Wise Brown; illustrated by Clement HurdIn this story by the author of Goodnight Moon (an excellent bunny book in its own right), a little bunny threatens to run away, but soon realizes that he can never run to a place that’s outside the realm of his mother bunny’s love.

Knuffle Bunny, by Mo WillemsIn this Caldecott Honor Book, Trixie and her daddy visit the Laundromat. Trixie can’t talk yet, which becomes a major problem when she realizes her stuffed bunny is gone. Good thing her daddy — with a little help from her mommy — is determined to make it all right again.

Bunny Cakes, by Rosemary WellsRosemary Wells’ lovable bunny characters are making cakes for Grandma’s birthday, but Max keeps spilling Ruby’s ingredients. Ruby sends Max to the grocery store again and again, and each time Max tries to add the secret ingredient he needs for his earthworm birthday cake: Red-Hot Marshmallow Squirters. The grocer can’t read Max’s scribbles — until Max finally finds a creative way to make himself understood.

Henry and the Buccaneer Bunnies, by Carolyn Crimi; illustrated by John MandersIn this high seas adventure, none of the buccaneer bunnies aboard the Salty Carrot can understand why Henry, son of the captain Barnacle Black Ear, spends all his time reading instead of doing normal pirate things. Soon, though, the crew comes to realize that reading can really come in handy!

Duck! Rabbit! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom LichtenheldOkay, some of you may argue that this is really a book about a duck, but that’s the fun of this new book of optical illusions. Is it a duck or a rabbit? There are convincing arguments for both, so it’s up to you to decide.